Wrench.



C. A. OLSON & C. H. TOOMBS.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 1915.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

fioation and illustrated in the accompanying CHARLES 'oLsoN' AND CLAUDE H. TOOMIBS, 0F GENEVA, ILLINOIS.

WRENCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES A. OLsoN and CLAUDE H. TOOMBS, both citizens of the United States, and both residing at Geneva, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to wrenches and particularly to the type known as socket wrenches.

It isone of the objects ofour invention to provide a simple, compact, efficient wrench, easily and quickly adjustable to take nuts of various sizes and adaptable to nuts of various shapes and styles. I

It is another object of our invention to provide a wrench of the sort described which, in its construction, combines great durability and strength with extreme economy and ease of manufacture.

Additional objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection withthe appended claims.

We have described in the following'sp'eeidrawings an embodiment of our invention, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims, the form of the invention herein disclosed being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a wrench constructed in acordanc'e with our invention, showing the interior parts in dotted lines, with jaw members withdrawn;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same showing the jaw members extended;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation from the right of Fig. 2; I i

Fig. 4' is a detailshowing in perspective one of the duplicate jaw members;

Fig. 5 is a view partially in cross section and partially in elevation shOWinga modification of the wrench illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views taken 'on the lines 66 and 77 respectively, of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Specification of Letters Patent. V Patented Oct, 23, 191 7;

Application filed March 10, 1915. Serial No. 13, 151.

Referring to thefdrawings, the'body portion of the wrench is composed of an open ended cylindrical sleeve or'tube 10 which is made from ordinary stock tubing. Fitting in one end ofthis tube 10' are a pair of jaw members 11 which are identical and which are longitudinally adjustable in the tube as will more fully hereinafter appear. The opposing inner faces 12 of these jaw members are flat and the outer surfaces 13 are formed to correspond with the adjacent inner surface ofthe sleeve or tube 10 in any position-as more fully hereinafter appears. The inner flat surface of each jaw member is formed with a V-shaped cut 14: at the end so that the 'two corresponding cuts form jaws for graspin a nut. At their edges, as indicated at 15, the jaws are cut'flat in'order that they can take hold of a flat strip or the wings of certain'types of wing nuts when desired. And complementary longitudinal grooves 16 extending inwardly from the shoulder formed by the jaws 14L provide a hole by meansof which the wrench can grasp the end of a bolt or the like. This hole also provides clearance for the end of a bolt-in case the wrench is used-with a nut beyond 1 which the bolt projects. For more elfectively grasping a rod or the like the grooves 16 forming this hole are provided with longitudinal teeth 16*. The jaws are provided with a hinged relation by means of-a pin 17 which'fits in a hole formed by complementary transverse grooves 18 out in the flat surfaces ofthe jaw members ll near the inner ends thereof. This pin also serves to adjustably connect the jaw -members to the tube 10 as each end-of the pin 17 passes through a slot 19 cut in the wall of the tube, and is headed'over as shown at 20 so as to secure the parts in place. From their outer ends the jaw members 11 are tapered inwardly for a distance corresponding to the length of the slot 19, as appears in Fig. 1,-or

in other words, corresponding to the extent of, their longitudinal displacement.

From this point, they are tapered outwardly to their 7 inner ends at which points they. are, to-

gether, of a diameter to fit the tube. The

transverse curve of the outer surfaces. "of these members at all points corresponds to the curve of the inner surface of the tube.

Due to this construction a portion of each of the aw members is .alwaysin snug contact with the'tube regardless of thelong'ia I tudinal position of the members. The: jaw

members may be extended beyond the end-of the tube or withdrawnintothetubeby moving the pin 17 back and forth in the slots 19.

This operation causes the jaws to open or close to provide an opening of the desired size, for as thejaws-are extendedbeyond the tube, a coiled spring 21.,each end of which sits in a suitable recess 22 in the fiat face of the jaw member, forces the jaws apart, the extent of such openingbeing limitedby the engagement of the jaw members with the tube. Due to the construction described the farther the jaws are extended beyond. the end of; the tube the wider they will open. The forceof the spring issuflicientv to provide-enough, friction between the jaw. members and. the tube to hold the jaws in any positionto which they may be moved. As will beapparent, upon, withdrawal of the jaws by a movement of: the pininthe opposite direction, the engagement of. the tube withthe tapered surfaces 13-causesthe jaws to close. Ifdesired, instead of utilizing the pinlT as ameans of opening and closing the jaws, the wrench maybe given a quick jerk as by the sudden downward movement of the arm. This will cause the aw members to be extended;to the fullopen.position. Thejaws may then be placed over the nut and'pressure-on the wrench will cause the jaws to closetothe desired extent.-

. The wrench is operated by a handle 23 whichmaybe of the formand shape desired, the form shown being an ordinary steelrod. This handle is inserted through diametrically opposed holes 24: cut in the tube 10 near the endrthereof. For convenience and-in order that the handle-may be placed in the propen relative position there are two sets of these holesas shown in Fig. 5.

InFig. 5' is illustrated a modification of the wrenclrjust: described. This form also hascylindrical tube 10 and apair of iden tical jaw 'members 11 which. have .flat inner opposing faces 12 and taperedouter surfaces 13, the curveof which, at all'points, corresponds with the 1 adj acentinner surface ofv the tube, as before. described. The jaw forming endsof themembersll are formed justasthe; similar; parts above described. Near the inner endof the jaw members are cut complementary channels forming, to-

gether as ,shownin Fig.5., aslot 25for the reception of a pin-26 which passes through the tube lOatv diametrically opposed points, theends being riveted-or otherwise secured in place. The jaw members ll have recesses 22 for receiving a coiled spring 21 asv before describedfor causing the jawsto open asthe members 11. are withdrawn.- from. the tube and these members are held, together in proper relative position by: a pin 27, fitting in suitable grooves near. theirinner ends, thus: giving the members azhinged relation. As W111 be apparent, in this form of wrenchthe pin 26 is stationary and the jaw members ride on it-b'y meanszof' the slot The jaw members are extended to open the jaws by giving the wrench a sudden jerk as by the quick downward movement of the arm. ThisWill -ordinarily open the jawstotheir full extent and, they are closed by pressure on the wrench.

It is thought. that the operation of the wrench will be clear from. the foregoing description... To recapitulate, the. adjustment of the jaws to provide the opening desired is attained by movement of. pin 17" inthe slots 19 or by the sudden erk of'the wrench and subsequent pressure on the wrench against the article being operated 'on. In either casethc jaws are forced open during extension of members 11' by the spring 21. and are closed on withdrawal by. the .contact of these members with the tube. The jaws having been adjusted to provide suitable engagement with the nut. or. other article, the wrench is turned by means. of

the handle and, as will be seen, the turning torque of thetube is transmittedto the jaw members through the medium ofthe pin 17 orpin 26. Through. these pins, also, the

torsional strainv of operation is distributed evenly,.thus bringing suclrtorsional strain in balance with respect. to the axisof, the sleeve and the wrench as a. whole: Pin 17 or pin 2.6 passingthrough the sides ofi'the .tubelOserves.alsoto holdthe jaw members.

against relative rotation within, the tube.

A wrench embodying our-invention has numerous advantages in construction. and

use... Every part maybe madefrom standard-stock. 'Theztubemay be cut from stock tubing. of suitable. size; the, pin may. be

formed flOIlI an ordinary. rod and the jaw members may be. fashioned from. commercial half; round stock. And asthe jaw members are counterparts only one set of:

forming tools is required.

A cylindrical tube ofthis sort, in.-addi tlon to being extremely economicaLto-producc, is likewise very efficient, anddurable.

For, as it is circular, in .cross section ,through- I out it provides throughout a section of maximunrstrength. Likewise, the form. of the jaw members makes .for combined economy. andefliciencyr They are of. a cross section to give maximum st rength,-, they provide maximum contact with the t'ube, whichitends to prevent sidemotion or rocking during operation of thewrench, and they fitv the-inside of the tubeso that; the jaws, when opened; are held in proper relative alinement...

tion of the pin 17 in. its slot or by a quick jerk of the wrench, as the case may be. It will take hexagon, square, wing and cook nuts, and nuts that are worn, flats, studs and ends of bolts, all equally well. It cannot slip as the jaws have rigid bearing on four sides and the harder one pulls the harder the jaws grasp the nut.

Another advantageous feature is that the wrench holds the nut after removal, or the nut may be placed in the jaws and thus applied to its bolt in locations inaccessible to the hands.

WVhen the jaws are withdrawn into the cylindrical tube and the handle removed the Wrench presents a compact article with no protruding or irregularly shaped parts so that it can be easily carried and packed.

The various advantages and benefits derived from this wrench as above noted are taken merely as examples and many more, which it is considered inexpedient to set forth here, Will be apparent to the wrench user.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A socket wrench comprising a tube having a cylindrical bore, a pair of jaw members slidably fitting in said tube, said jaw members being substantially semi-cir- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

cular in cross section, said jaws having opposing grooves extending completely across the flat faces of said jaw members, and a pin lying in said grooves and forming a bearing pin for said jaw members, said tube having diametrically opposed openings in its sides into which the ends of said pin extend for transmitting torsion from said tube to said jaws, said jaw members having opposed recesses therein forming a socket substantially co-axial with said tube.

2. A socket wrench comprising a tube having a cylindrical bore, a pair of jaw members slidably fitting in said tube, said jaw members being substantially semi-circular in cross section and a pin forming a pivot for said members, said tube having diametrically opposed slots in its sides into which the ends of said pivot pin extend for transmitting torsion from said tube to said jaws, said j aW members having opposed recesses therein forming a socketsubstantially coaxial with said tube.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. OLSON. CLAUDE H. TOOMBS.

' Witnesses:

MOLLIE REILLY,

M. A. 'JosHEL.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

